L'Amoureuse (The Female Lover) from the After 50 Years of Surrealism (Après 50 Ans de Surréalisme) Suite
Print, original etching with hand-coloring on paper, framed under glass. • Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989)
Style & Movement
Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Etching with hand-painted stencil (pochoir) coloring. The technique utilizes fine line etching with heavy red gouache or ink application on the lips, featuring the characteristic 'dripping' lip aesthetic.
Creation Period
1974
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 15.5 x 11.5 inches (image size); 28 x 20 inches (framed). Vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
The composition features a dreamlike, linear face with closed eyes and exaggerated red lips with a single drop of red. The background depicts a vast, receding perspective corridor typical of Dalí's 'paranoiac-critical' landscapes, with tiny silhouetted figures in the distance. It represents themes of desire, subconscious longing, and the persistence of memory.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The paper appears clean with minimal toning; however, the framing (matted against the paper) and environmental exposure in a commercial setting suggest potential unseen acid damage or light fading.
Estimated Market Value
$2,500 - $4,500 (depending on authenticity verification and edition size)
Auction Estimate
$2,000 - $3,500
Provenance History
The print features a visible pencil signature 'Dalí' in the lower right bottom margin and limited edition notation (EA for Épreuve d'Artiste) in the lower left. Likely acquired via the primary art market or through editions publishers in the 1970s.
Art Historical Significance
This piece belongs to a significant late-career suite commemorating the 50th anniversary of André Breton's Surrealist Manifesto. It reflects Dalí's commercial transition during the 1970s while maintaining his iconic visual vocabulary of perspective and fluid anatomy.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'EA' (Artist's Proof) marking; high-contrast red ink on the lips; presence of the receding perspective lines which are a hallmark of Dalí's explorations into deep space.
Condition Issues
Possible light foxing or yellowing obscured by the glass; 'waviness' in the paper suggests it may not be mounted to archival standards. Slight fading of the more delicate background lines is possible due to UV exposure.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend removal from current frame to inspect margins for watermarks (such as Arches or BFK Rives). Reframing should utilize acid-free museum-grade matting and UV-protective museum glass to prevent further degradation.